DOMBOYA, Ethiopia/NEW YORK, United Nations – Tadelech Ermias remembers the ridicule she faced when she refused to undergo female genital mutilation (FGM), which was considered a requirement for brides in her community... Read more

SOKORU, Ethiopia – Two years ago, 16-year-old Salia Shemsu waited to be married off.
She had just failed the national exam, barring her from pursuing the education she longed for. As the first-born girl in her family,... Read more

DEBAYTILATGIN, Ethiopia – Hulunayehu Belay’s family ekes out a living by farming a small plot of land at the edge of a mountain. Her husband, Leul Hunegnaw, supplements their income by working as a priest. For years,... Read more

JIMMA, Ethiopia – After her wedding at age 20 in the Seka District of Ethiopia, Birkisa Aba Nega became pregnant. Then again, and again. Four of the five children she delivered died, and she was left with a debilitating... Read more

Durame, ETHIOPIA – Genet Girma, 31, was a trailblazer in her community. Fifteen years ago, she ran away from home when she learned that her mother planned to have her undergo female genital mutilation (FGM).
As in many... Read more

KOLLA TEMBEIN, Ethiopia – Not long ago, the sight of a 10-year-old bride was a common occurrence in Ethiopia’s Kolla Tembein District, said Daniel Hagos, the district’s chief administrator. But the community’s women... Read more

SHEBEL BERENTA, Ethiopia – Sileshi Deguale was busy working alongside his family, preparing their land for planting season, but he paused to recall how difficult the work was last year. His wife had been too ill to help... Read more

BENISHANGUL-GUMUZ, Ethiopia – Three times, Abebech Kabla has given birth alone in the woods. Each time, she thought she might die. The first time, she was only 13 years old, a year into her marriage.
“Even after giving... Read more

ADDIS ABABA/RWAMANGANA – Marie Josee Mukankuranga stood before international health and development experts in her home in the Rwamagana District of Rwanda, talking about her community’s need for family planning.
Ms.... Read more